Animal Profiles

Profile (Venomous): South African Flat Rock Scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes)

Origin
The South African Flat Rock Scorpion is also commonly refereed to as the Flat Rock Scorpion or South Africa Rock Scorpion. Its species are found in a wide range of places across southern Africa. The main countries where they are located are Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Profile and Species
H. troglodytes comprises of a number of different species  but all of them are commonly found in drier , bushveld environment that have an annual rainfall of around 600mm. They are only found in areas which comprise of a type of rock that can split to enable them live in the cracks. These rocks include granite and sandstone. The scorpions seem to like living at hill bottoms as opposed to the higher parts. A full grown adult can occupy cracks measuring 1.5cm in width. The younger scorpions take the smaller cracks in order to lessen the competition with adults. In some places, the scorpions can be quite dense, filling every crack available.

The Flat Rock Scorpion is the longest scorpion among the different species, and is sexually dimorphic. The males have a longer tail than the females. Also, the metasomal segments of the male are extremely elongated. For this reason, they are not only longer than the females, but also they are one of the longest and largest species existing. Their tails are often coiled and kept close to their bodies. Some males have been observed to reach over 21 cm, while a typical female reaches 15-20cm. and can weigh 30-40g.

Diet
When they are in their natural habitat, the Flat Rock Scorpion feeds mainly on mollusks. When in captivity, they can do with crickets and other smaller insects including mealworms and wax worms. This species is one of the most popular one kept in captivity. Many of them are kept in captive breeding as pets.

The South African Flat Rock Scorpion is considered a rock dwelling (lithophilic) species. It has a compact body with long legs, strong claws and stiff setae which enable it to scurry fast over stones and rocks in its rocky habitat. In the wild, it can be easily found under scraped out stone areas in the substrate.

Housing
The scorpions can be housed individually in a 5-10 gallon terrarium with a substrate of soil or sand rising 8-10 cm in height. It is advisable to have a form of shelter for them; you can use flat rocks such as slate for this. Also, you can use a piece of bark or a similar shelter. Water should also be available in the housing. Ensure it is shallow enough not to drown the scorpion. Since these scorpions are excellent climbers, ensure the housing is secured properly. The covering, preferably glass, should be secured tightly.

The scorpions’ enclosure should be maintained at a temperature of about 75°F-95°F. Humidity of 70%-75% is accepted.

It is advisable to keep the babies with their mothers for several weeks. However, the adults are best kept separately because the scorpions are semi aggressive. Just like the Emperor Scorpions, the Flat Scorpions are not quick to sting. Instead, they prefer using their sturdy claws to defend themselves by pinching. They are not happy when they are handled and will always try to crawling off the hand to escape. They use their strong legs and long tail to push themselves off a handler’s fingers or hand. This is an invert pet and it is recommended you keep handling to a minimum in order to avoid stressing them.

Reproduction
Although the females have large and robust bodies like the males, their tails are not as long as that of the males. When mating, the male will grab the female’s pincers and start a shaking action called “juddering”. After shoving the female for a short time, the male will insert a spermatophore onto the substrate and then position the female over the sperm. The female then lowers its abdomen and using its genital opening, picks up the spermatophore. The two will then separate and most of the time will retreat quickly in the opposite directions.

The Flat Rock Scorpion has a strange habit during reproduction. This scorpion, unlike other scorpion species, does not produce a lot of moisture that is usually observed during the birth of the membranes of the young scorpions. This may be a way of conserving water since it lives in a dry habitat. For this reason, birth is compromised and it may take up to ten days to give birth to twelve to eighteen babies.

Ailments
If provided with the right environment, scorpions are quite hardy to ailments. However, some signs such as the loss of appetite may be an indication that your pet is sick. Other signs may include acting sluggish, deformed or missing limbs, an overly swollen stomach, among others. Also, the scorpions can be infested with mites.

Many scorpions can stay without eating for a long time. However, overfeeding may make the scorpion lose its appetite and cause it stomach to swell, and this may result to death. Mites usually come into the confinement area when there is uneaten food. The mites are very stressful to scorpions. Ensure that you clean the scorpion housing and remove any uneaten foods.

The molt is one of the main reasons why scorpions die. All scorpions have a hard outer covering that make the exoskeleton. This exoskeleton must be shed off and a new one must be excreted in order for the scorpion to grow. During their lifetime, the scorpions will molt (shed the exoskeleton) 6 to 10 times. The process is very tiresome and the scorpions are left at risk for a number of days as they await he new skin to harden. If the scorpion experiences a difficult molt, it can become sluggish, have deformed limbs or die. The main cause of death is thought to be related to either too little or too much humidity in the confinement area.

Conclusion
The South African Flat Rock Scorpion is a great animal to keep if you know how to take care of it. This Scorpion is Venomous.

Tags: animal profiles, H. troglodytes, Hadogenes troglodytes, scorpion, South African Flat Rock Scorpion, Venomous